Expansion of the empire. British campaign
Claudius within two years after coming to power away from the principles of foreign policy, which in his reign of Tiberius professed, still had enough fighting in August, and planned a military campaign, which greatly expanded the boundaries of the empire. The campaign, this was the landing of the Roman troops in Britain and turn it into a Roman province.
Attempts were made to win Britain another Caesar, in the 50 years I century BC. Oe. However, despite local successes have not led to the enslavement of Britons. Augustus and Tiberius were occupied more pressing problems than the island on the edge of the earth. In 40 year Caligula attempted to march on Britain, but held it was in his inimitable style: the troops were constructed in battle formations on the Gallic shore in front of La Manche, pochle what they were ordered to attack the water. After the attack the Legion was ordered to gather on the banks of shells, which were exhibited at the Capitol as military extraction.
A victorious war would undoubtedly strengthened the still fragile situation of Claudius. Probably this circumstance has forced the emperor once again recall Britain. The reason for the war was the expulsion des Atrebates who are customers of Rome, its king, Werikhe.
Claudius had formed an army numbering about 40 000 people, which included four legions and approximately the same number of additional troops. At the head of the army was put Aulus Plautus, and one of the legions, commanded by a young Legate on behalf of Vespasian.
Romans sailed from Boulogne and landed in Rutupii (modern Richborough, Kent, UK). Stand up to them the sons of the king Catuvellauni Togodumn and Caratacus. The main forces of the Britons and Romans met on the River Medway, near Durobriva (now Rochester, Kent, UK). Battle, with varying success, lasted two days and, eventually, the Romans drove the Britons to the River Thames.
Plautius organized persecution and smashed the scattered forces shaving. A few days later, in Camulodunum (Colchester) Claudius received the surrender of 11 British kings. Togodumn at that time was already dead, and Caratacus escaped. Later, 50 year, he was caught and pardoned by Claudius. All the British expedition took 16 days. Britain was conquered and became a Roman province, Claudius was awarded a triumph and kognomena Britannic, which he refused.
The British campaign had a positive impact on the popularity of the Emperor, both among people and the troops. In the early years of his reign, virtually without the use of force, Claudius paid in the Roman province of a few more clients in Rome: Thrace, Noricum, Pamphylia, Lycia, and Judea. Transition has been completed under the Roman rule Mauretania, begun by Caligula in.
Thus, at 48, when Claudius had a population census, the first after the death of Augustus, Rome has 5 984 072 citizens, that a million more than was in the year of the death of Augustus. But the number of inhabitants has increased by more than a third.